Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-05

lish the weight of bushel Of oats, came up
under special assignment, the pending ques-
ton being the motion to reconsider the vote
passing the bill to be engrossed, which mo-
ton prevailed.
Mr.. Walton understood that II wooio De
announcement to the farmers OF the state 10
change the weight of bushel OF oats now
and he therefore moved to lndennIely post
pone the bill.
Mr.. Billings of Brownville, as member
ofIthe Committee on Agriculture, said that
committee unanimously, as farmers, report
ed this bill because 80 lbs. came nearer 10
being the true weight of bushel OF Data
than 80 lbs. Farmers would agree with MIN
that good oats would weigh more than that'
Mr.. Jones of Athens could see no reason
for this change. We all knew that thirty or
forty years ago, when the country was new.
not only oats but all kinds of grain averaged
higher than they do today, thesweight grad
ually lessening as the land became older and
poorer. All through Canada and the west
the weight averaged higher than in Maine.
The only ones that would be benefited
would be the hotel-keepers, who measured
their oats out in feed to horses
Mr.. Pattangall of Pembroke said that TINS
change was proper and fitting. In New
York and Massachusetts 80 lbs. constituted
bushel, while in Maine it was 30. What fol-
lowed? Whv. large dealers would buy their
grain in Massachusetts or New York because
they would get better weight. Down in his
county, and they did not have very fine farm
land there, either, their oats averaged 40 lbs.
to the bushel, and they would not think
much of oats that did not average more than
80.
Mr. Waugh of Levant said that the Com
mittee on Agriculture looked up this matter
somewhat, and they found but three States
in the Union that had the weight established
at 80 lbs.-Maine, New Jersey and North
Carolina. All the rest held it at 80 lbs. The
committee thought the weight should be uni
form throughout the country.
Mr. Allen of Alfred had spoken to large
grain dealers on this point In Canada and
other States 80 lbs. was the standard weight,
and he thought it proper to establish the
same weight here. The only objection
among some farmers was that while the
prices of wheat among large buyers some
times varied, it was almost universally fifty
cents bushel among farmers, and they
thought that when the weight was raised the
price would remain the same, and they would
thereby lose. He thought, however. that the
price would be governed by the weight.
Mr.. Libby of Burnham said the committee
had given this matter careful attention, and
they considered that the weight should be i'll
uniformity with the weight of all the States,
except two others-New Jersey and North
Carolina. The oats of Maine would average
more than 80 lbs.
Mr.. Walton thought that if the grain-deal-
ers wanted this raise in weight and the farm
ers did not want it, we ought not to raise it
That was sufficient for him to know.
Mr.. Pattangall thought that Maine ought
not be behind other States in giving good
Christian measure.
Mr.. Walton called for the yeas and nays
and the House ordered them.
The motion to indefinitely postpone was
lost by the following vote:
YEA-Messrs. Barker. Bowker. Boynton, Bradley,
Brown Bryant, Clark OF Saco, Corson Cults, Doten,
Dow, Fegg, Greene, Hawkes., Hersey, Hobson, Hori.
gan, Hunter, Jones, Litefeld of Prospect. Looney,
Lufkin, Newbert. Noble. Parcher. PIERCE, Reynolds.
ton, Warren OF Buxton, Widber w ggin, Wiham.-s7.
NAY-Messrs. Adams, Alden, Alexander, Allen,
Bennett Billings. Bishop, Bradish, Burns, Carleton,
Condor, Cook, Gushing, Dawson, Dority, Eells. Far
rar, Ferguson, Floyd, Foster. Glover, Hall, Ham
ilton of Cumberland Hamilton of Gouldsboro. Hard
rington, Hayden, Head, Jewett, Jordan kidder.
kmSsbuTy' Knapp Leyensaler Lbbey Of Durham.
O'Brien, Nealley, Packard, Palmer, Pattangall,
Powers, Pray, Purnton of Bowdoin, Randall, Ray,
Ri ker, Roberts of Brunswick, Roberts of Dexter,
Russell. sanborn of standish Scott. sisby, Small.
Wentworth, Weymouth, Whitmore. Wiley, Wilson,
Wiswell, Wright. York-74.
Gotta, CLARK OF Caribou Coutier Dickey Engel Field
Friend, Gagnon. Clifford, Greer, Grinde, Hodgkns.
Judkins, Keegan, Libby of Mattawamkeag. Lyons,
Mallett Manley ,Marston, Moore OF Deering Morrill,,
Poole, Purinton of Bow donham, Ross, Sanborn Of
Island Falls Sharp, Shaw Smith. Surgis, Sylvester.
Talbot, Thurlow Wakefield, Watts, Wedgewood,
Whitcomb, Woodman.-39.
The bill was then passed to be engrossed.
Bill an act relating to the Boston & Maine
Railroad, came up for third reading, was
read the third time, and pending passage to
be eDgrossed, was tabled on motion of Mr..
Horigan of Biddeford.
Bill an act to incorporate the Pleasant
River improvement Company, came up for
third reading, was read the third time, and
pending passage to be engrossed was tabled
on motion of Mr.. Hayden of Sangerville, and
tomorrow assigned.
Bill an act to amend sections and 9,
chapter IL, revised statutes. and to provide
for a supply of school text books at reduced
prices, came up for third reading was
read the third time, and pending passage to
be engrossed was laid on the table, on motion
of Mr.. Ryder of Springfield and Wednesday
next assigned for its consideration.
Bill an act to amend sec. 81, chap. 80, re-
vised statutes, as amended by chap. 3O3, pub
lie laws of 1885, relating to game birds came
up for first reading.
On motion of Mr. Clifford of Auburn, the
bill was amended by inserting at the end of
the tenth line the words "Section 81 :" was
read twice and tomorrow assigned.
READ AND ASSIGNED.
Bill an act to amend section 5. chapter 65
revised statutes.
Bill an act fixing the salary of the Adju-
tant-General of the State.
Bill ar act to incorporate the Sagadah,c
Real Estate Association.
Bill an act for the protection of patrons of
agricultural fairs.
Bill an act to amend section 81, chapter 80,
revised statutes, as amended by chapter 3O3,
public laws of 1885, relating to game birds.
Bill an act to authorize cities and towns to
accept and manage land and buildings and
property for the use of the people Of cities
and towns as public library or art gallery.
Bill an act to amend section ~, chapter 4 ),
revised statutes, in relation to false state
ments to officers in charge of lists of voters
and ballot boxes.
PASSED TO BE ENGRossED.
Resolve in favor of Edwin A. Davis.
Resolve in favor of the Committee on Ed
ucation.
Resolve concerning An amendment to the
Il ~ 4